Hydraulic lifting devices



May 21, 1968 R. L. wooo 3,384,253

HYDRAULIC LIFTING DEVICES Filed Nov. 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I v 18INVENTQR! Roberfi Le a'lzlvLe Mood 13W 2 PMA y 1953 R. L. WOOD 3,384,253

HYDRAULIC LIFTING DEVICES Flled Nov. 7, 1966 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR;

Robert Le fh le Wood.

12W aw x Pm y 1, 1968 R. L. wooo 3,384,253

HYDRAULIC LIFTING DEVICES Filed Nov. 7, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet :s

A E 13 v Roberi Leaf h .l.e \x/ o l c i ROP Ag United States Patent3,384,253 HYDRAULIC LIFTING DEVICES Robert L. Wood, West Terrace,Richmond, Yorkshire, England Filed Nov. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 592,521 10Claims. (Cl. 214-501) This invention relates to hydraulic liftingdevices of the type employing at least one hydraulic ram unit fortipping a vehicle or trailer body and operating a pivoted crane beam orjib.

Various types of hydraulic ram unit lifting devices are known for use inrelation to road or land vehicles and such devices have included rigid,hinged and telescopic jibs or beams.

According to the present invention there is provided a hydraulic liftingdevice including at least one ram and cylinder unit having an axiallymovable mounting carrying a collar furnished with attachment means forconnection to a vehicle body for tipping purposes, said movable mountingalso having a carrier bracket providing a pivot means for one end of acrane beam, the unit ram being pivotally connected, or capable ofconnection, to the beam intermediate the beam ends and extensible fromthe mounting to give angular pivotal movement to the beam, and lockingmeans to be used for locking the beam against said angular operationrelative to its pivotal axis when the unit is required for body tippingpurposes. The axially movable mounting may be an external tubularpillar.

The invention includes a hydraulic lifting device for use on a vehicle,including at least one ram and cylinder unit having a ram axiallymovable by selection either in relation to or with an external mountingin the form of a pillar, a head stock at the top of the pillar providinga horizontal pivot for a crane beam to be movable angularly in avertical plane under the control of the said ram pivotally connected toor engaged with the beam in advance of said pivot, means for'locking thebeam at will against said pivotal angular movement and/or connecting theram to the pillar, and attachment means on the pillar normally connectedto the vehicle body for tipping said body when the beam is lockedagainst angular movement and the hydraulic unit is operated.

The invention will now be more particularly described wi'h reference tothe accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle with the improved hydrauliclifting device fitted thereto;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the upper end of the hydraulicdevice;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a modified form of mounting for the beam;

FIG. 5 is a part sectional detail view of another form of beam mounting;

FIG. 6 is a part sectional detail view showing a rotatable headstock;

FIG. 7 is a part sectional detail view of a beam with stroke limitingmeans;

FIG. 8 shows a beam with movable trolley for a lifting means; and

FIG. 9 is a part sectional detail elevation of a headstock provided withalternative pivot points.

In a particular embodiment a known type of telescopic ram 1 and cylinderunit 2, which is usually pivotally mounted at 3 with its hydrauliccontrol gear 4 on the chassis 5 of a vehicle, is used for this inventionand is furnished with an external tubular pillar 6. or some other formof mounting, which is capable of axial movement on the outer cylinder ofthe unit 2. This tubular pillar is also capable of rotation about theunit axis and any known form of means may be furnished for causing suchaxial 3,384,253 Patented May 21, 1968 rotation. The pillar serves as amounting as hereinafter described.

Near its upper end the pillar 6 has a fixed flange 7 on which rests acollar 8 (preferably with an interposed thrust bearing) in which thetubular pillar is capable of rotation. This collar is adapted to beattached to a vehicle body 9 and conveniently may have one or more lugs,a flange or plate 10, with holes therein for the tie rods or other meansto be attached to the collar. For example, two tie rods 11 are attachedpreferably to the lower part of the tipping body front wall or bodyframework with a central tie bracket 12 (or other means) secured tothe'body head board or other part. This central tie means is secured bya withdrawable pin 17 passed through it and the lug 8a on the collar 8.It will hold the ram and cylinder unit 2 firmly upright when the body isdown. Above this collar 8 is a bracket 13, forming a head stock, whichis fixed to the tubular pillar 6, or to a cap which may be fixed ordetachably mounted on the top of the pillar. This bracket 13 hasupstanding side parts which embrace, with clearance, the crane beam 14whose rear end is pivotally connected at 24 to a link 15 mounted on apivot 16 in the bracket 13. This bracket also has a pair of alignedholes in the upper end of its side parts to receive a removable beamlocking pin 17 when required, which will have been withdrawn from thebracket 12.

With the above arrangement the ram 1 can be extended by hydraulicpressure and thus give angular elevation to the crane beam 14 about itsrear pivot 24 in a vertical plane. Preferably the vehicle body 9 islocked down on the chassis 5 during this operation. If the beam 14 islocked to the bracket 13 against such angular movement by the insertionof the locking pin 17, and the central tie bracket 12 and body 9 arereleased, then the tubular pillar 6 and its fitments will be raised andthus a tipping operation will be imparted to the vehicle body. The beam14 may have means for limiting its height during angular elevation. Forexample, a link 18 is pivotally connected to the beam to hang pendantlyand its screw threaded lower end 19 passes through bracket 13 and has astop nut 20 for adjustment. The stop means may take some other form.

In a modified arrangement, if the beam 14 is removed, the locking pin 17may 'be inserted through the tubular pillar 6 (or its bracket 13) toconnect the ram 1 to the pillar 6 for body tipping purposes through therods 11. In another arrangement the aforesaid bracket 13 may have onemore upstanding members, say a stirrup, in advance of the axis of theram 1 and cylinder unit 2 and carry locking means to pass through orover or otherwise engage the crane beam 14.

The hydraulic unit 2 may have additional load supporting means in theform of adjustable legs 21 (they are shown detachably or otherwiseconnected to the aforesaid collar 8) extensible to the ground when thecrane is to be used. The legs 21 may be fitted with wheels, feet orground gripping means.

In a modification, FIG. 4, the top 22 of the ram 1 is detachablyconnected to the crane beam 14, i.e. withdrawably engaged with a rolleror pin 23 on the beam. The beam also has a quick release connection atits rear pivot 24 carried by bracket 13 in that the pin is withdrawable.The beam end may be hooked to engage a fixed pin.

In another arrangement FIG. 5, the beam 14 is mounted on a rearwardlydisposed pivot 26 and a link 27 connects the ram 1 to the beam 14 toallow for the angular movement of the beam. The locking pin 17 in thiscase may be above the beam although it could pass through it.

As shown in FIG. 6 the bracket 13 may be rotatably mounted on the top ofthe pillar 6 so that the beam and its carrier bracket can rotate aboutthe axis of the piston V and cylinder unit 2. The flange 6a at the topof the pillar may be fixed or detachable and a thrust bearing maybeinserted between the bracket 13 and collar 8.

FIG. 7 shows more clearly the idea of limiting means for the angularmovement of the beam 14 with the beam mounted on a fixed pivot 26.

The crane beam in this instance may be a rigid one of any desiredsectionincluding tubular, it may be twin side-by-side members, or of latticebeam construction, hinged intermediate its ends to be foldable, ortelescopic. In the latter two instances hydraulic control means may befurnished for controlling extension and retraction of the beam in itslength. The end of the beam may be adapted to receive an extension orother ladder which may be pivoted thereto or on a universal joint.

Preferably, the means for lifting a load comprises a pulley block unitwhich is detacha'bly or otherwise connected to the outer end of the beamso that a load can be lifted or lowered in relation to the beamindependently of any movement of such beam. Some other lifting ropearrangement may be used. As shown in FIG. 8 the lifting means may besuspended from a movable trolley 29 which is guided along the beam 14. V

A further modified arrangement is shown in FIG. 9, wherein the headstockcomprises a bracket 1311 which is off-set, in its length, from the headof the pillar 6 and is furnished with two pairs of pivot holes 30, 31.By providing two sets of holes in this manner a beam 14 can be mountedon a pivot pin 24 in either of the top holes, or mounted on a link (orlinks) 15 which will have its pivot pin 16 mounted in either of thelower holes. By allowing for alternative mountings the head stock ismore adaptable and if the holes are selected the leverage will beshorter, say for quick lifting of lighter loads, and if either of theholes 31 are selected it allows for greater leverage for heavier loads.

What I claim is:

1. A hydraulic lifting device on a vehicle having a tipping body,including at least one hydraulic ram and cylinder unit, a tubular pillarsurrounding and pivotal about the axis of said unit, a head stock on thepillar, said head stock providing a pivotal mounting, a crane beam onsaid mounting, connection means between said beam and the unit ram forthe ram to give the beam angular movement about its pivotal mounting,selection means for locking the beam temporarily at will to the headstock to prevent any angular movement of the beam so that it will onlyrise and fall with the ram, and attachment means for connecting thepillar to the tipping --body of the vehicle for the ram to tilt saidbody.

2. A hydraulic lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the rear endof the crane beam has a pivotal mounting comprising a link pivotallyconnected to the pillar head stock. 7

3. A hydraulic lifting device according to claim 1, including a.Withdrawable locking pin for securing the beam to thehead stock toprevent angular movement of the beam. I

4. A hydraulic lifting device according to claim 1, including a bracketmounted on the pillar to move there- With but in a manner that allowsthe pillar to have axial rotation, said bracket having tie membersattached thereto and to the vehicle body so that a rising movement ofthe pillar through the medium of the crane beam the head stock and theram will tilt the vehicle body. I

5. A hydraulic lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the ram andcylinder unit is pivoted at its lower end to the vehicle and detachablyanchored near the cylinder upper end to the vehicle body by meansattached to a bracket on the pillar. I

6. A hydraulic lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the ram isconnected to the crane beam by pivoted link means to allow for angularmovement of the beam about a rearwardly disposed pivot.

7. A hydraulic lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the ram isdetachably engageable with means on the beam.

8. A hydraulic lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the beamcarrying head stock is rotatably mounted on the pillar.

9. A hydraulic lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the beamcarrying head stock has a plurality of beam pivot mounting holes in twosets on opposite ends of the head stock to provide a beam pivotselection and different degrees of leverage.

10. A. hydraulic lifting device according to claim 4, wherein groundengaging supporting legs are attached to the pillar bracket for use whenthe device is lifting heavy loads.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 922,182. 3/1963- Great Britain. 978,765212/1964 Great Britain.

A. J. MAKAY, Primary Examiner.

1. A HYDRAULIC LIFTING DEVICE ON A VEHICLE HAVING A TIPPING BODY,INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE HYDRAULIC RAM AND CYLINDER UNIT, A TUBULAR PILLARSURROUNDING AND PIVOTAL ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID UNIT, A HEAD STOCK ON THEPILLAR, SAID HEAD STOCK PROVIDING A PIVOTAL MOUNTING, A CRANE BEAM ONSAID MOUNTING, CONNECTION MEANS BETWEEN SAID BEAM AND THE UNIT RAM FORTHE RAM TO GIVE THE BEAM ANGULAR MOVEMENT ABOUT ITS PIVOTAL MOUNTING,SELECTION MEANS FOR LOCKING THE BEAM TEMPORARILY AT WILL TO THE HEADSTOCK TO PREVENT ANY ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF THE BEAM SO THAT IT WILL ONLYRISE AND FALL WITH THE RAM, AND ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR CONNECTING THEPILLAR TO THE TIPPING BODY OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE RAM TO TILT SAID BODY.